Method of treating textiles



May 30, 1944. G. DUNN METHOD OF TREATING TEXTILES v INVENTOR Geo ge E Dam/f1 BY May 30, 1944. e. E. DUNN METHOD OF TREATING TEXTILES Filed Aug. 7, 1940 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR e E Dun-IL M 5 g jr z Gsoz g May 30, 1944. G. E. DUNN 2,350,021

I METHOD OF TREATING TEXTILES Filed Aug. 7, 1940 4 Sheets-Sheet s In! x F" INVENTOR George 21 Dana y 30, 1944- G. E. DUNN METHOD OF TREATING TEXTILES Filed Aug. 7, 1940 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR Geocge E. Dunn setting apparatus.

Patented May 30, 1944 2,350,021 mz'rnop'or TREATING TEXTILES George E. Dunn, Kankakee, lll., assignor to Paramount Textile Machinery 00.,

corporation of Illinois Application August '1, 1940, Serial No. 351,654

6 Claims. (0118-54) This invention relates to an apparatus and process for treating textile articles, particularly stockings, comprising yarns spun from thermoplastic substances, as for example, synthetic linear condensation polyamides, as disclosed in United StatesLetters Patent No. 2,157,116, granted to W. H. Carothers, Nos. 2,157,117 and 2,157,119, granted to John B. Miles, Jr., and No.

2,157,118, granted to W. H. Heckert. Those pat ents comprehend yarns formed from various polyamides as well as articles of wearing apparel fabricated therefrom, and refer particularly to polyhexamethylene adipamide as having the most desirable characteristics for the spinning of'hosiery yam. Such yarn is commonlytermed "nylon and for simplicity will be so referred to herein. However, it will be appreciated from what follows that the apparatus and/or method disclosed herein are not limited in their application to the outlined treatment of nylon particularly, but are capable of use in connection with textile articles comprising other yarns, thermoplastic or otherwise.

In United States Letters Patent No. 2,333,160, granted on November 2, 1943, there is disclosed a process for setting the. shape of fabric articles constituted of nylon or other similar yarns comprising in essence pre-setting and re-setting phases. The present application, acontinuation in part of said former application, relates to apparatus for conducting the presetting phase in the most expeditious manner, and a preferred method of accomplishing said phase. It was pointed out in the application Just cited that the essence of the presetting phase, i. e. the setting of the knitted crimp in the case of knitted articles of apparel, for exam le, hosiery, is performed while the articles are in a relaxed or unstressed condition. .That is to say, the stockings are not stretched over a shaped form but receive the treatment while in the inherently relaxed condition subsisting after the article has been knitted, looped and seamed.

After the stockings leave the knitting machine they are, for convenience in handling, loosely tied in bundles of, for example, one dozen pairs and sent to the inspection station thus arranged. After the inspection, which is performed by drawing each stocking over the customary form,

the stocking is ready for charging into the pre- Inasmuch as it is essential that the goods not I be stressed, crushed or wrinkled in any manner between the knitting operation and the presetting phase and that they be subjected to the Kankakee, 111., a

presetting treatment with the natural configurations and loose folds of the knitted article as undisturbed as possible, we prefer to suspend each stocking during presetting by means of a support which will be calculated to have the least disturbing effect on the fabric. Although this end can be accomplished in several ways, I

prefer and disclose herein a method and apparatus by which the extreme tip of the stocking is placed over a needle and the entire article depends loosely therefrom during the presetting treatment. Alternatively, the suspension means could comprise a clamp to engage the tip of the toe with the least possible contact and will be almost as eflicacious but not as expeditious. The suspension need not necessarily be from the toe as the welt may serve as well or the stocking could be draped in some other manner just so it is in a condition of minimum stress, as fabric wrinkles resulting from suspension in a crushed condition or a position likely to produce sharp fabric wrinkles or distorted stitches will cause such wrinkles or distortions to be set. Fabric wrinkles may be removed under .a sufficiently high re-setting temperature, but stitch distortion is ordinarily irremediable. Furthermore, it is referred not to suspend too many stockings from one support as thereby the upper one are likely to exert wrinkling pressure on th underneath ones, and any such wrinkles existing while the treating proceeds can be removed, if at all,

in the later re-setting treatment only with some I right hand front corner, of a preferred form of presetting cabinet and showing particularly the automatic vapor controls therefor,

Figure 2 is a front elevation of the cabinet,

Figure 3 is a detailof one of the locking clamps for the cabinet door,

Figure 4 is a section on the line 4-4 of Figure 2, indicating the locking clamp and door sealing means,

Figure 5 is a perspectiveview looking from the right rear corner of the cabinet,

Figure 6 is a front elevation of the cabinet with the door open, and showing stockings suspended therein, U I

Figure '7 is a viewion the line 1-1 of Figure 6 Figure 8 is a view on, enlarged scale on the ing suspending Figure 9 is a view on the line 3-3 of Figure 8,

Figure 10 is a cross-sectional view on the line Iii-l of Figure 8,

Figure 11 is a cross-sectional view on the line I of Figure 8,

Figure 12 is a cross-sectional view on the line |2-l2 of Figure 8,

Figure.13 is a perspective view of the auxiliary stand used for supporting the suspending unit magazine of Figure 7, and

Figure 14 is a perspective view of an alterna- I tive form of magazine supporting means.

In a number of figures inconsequential parts are shown broken away for clarity.

Referring first to Figures 1 and 2, designates the cabinet proper -which comprises awelding, riveting or other common expedient. Cabinet H is supported by legs l4 formed as a part thereof and the cabinet may be suitably reinforced where necessary with ribs (not shown). Closure I2 is stiffened by means of formed members |6,.spot welded or otherwise fastened to the-inner face thereof. A gasket 2| (Figure 4) extending peripherally of the front opening of the cabinet serve to seal the door with respect to the cabinet and prevent escape of the treating media. An-anged at spaced apart points around the top, bottom and right hand side of the closure l2 and aflixed to the front leg member I4 is a plurality of lugs 22 (Figure 3) notched at 23 to receive the latch 44 and passing through bushing 45 in'cabinet Taking into the floor of cabinet II isthe drain line l which may be carried to a trap and thence to any convenient drain in the usual manner and serves to eliminate condensate accumulating on the bottom of the cabinet as processing goes forward.

Alluding now to Figure 1, steam for the presetting operation first enters the pipe 6|, thence through the T 62, nipple 63, valve, nipple 65, strainer 66, nipple 61, automatic flow regulating valve 63, nipple 69, valve 1|, nipple 12, fittings designated as a. group by 13, valve 14, pipe 15, fittings 16, valve TI and thence to pipe 43.

Automatic regulating valve 66 is of a wellknown' type, comprising a piston, diaphragm and pressure chamber connected by means of the tube-3| with the regulator instrument 32,

also of a well-known type and is adjustable to maintain any predetermined temperature of the water vapor or steam within the chamber. A

24 pivoted at 25 to the closure l2. A non-heat conducting handle 26 is provided at the outer extremity of each latch 24 for manipulation thereof. It will be observed that the front face 21 of each notch 23 is tapered as shown to result in an inward wedging action of the latch 24 and hence suitable closing pressure of closure |2 against its gasket 2|.

At the top rear of cabinet H is provided a flue 3| equipped with a damper 32 and controlling handle 33 therefor for the discharge of the treating media as desired. At the lower rear of the cabinet |l is.a rectangular opening 34 (Figure 5) extending outwardly as a sleeve 35 connecting with the heater unit 36. Said heater unit 36 comprises a substantially rectangular box containing a radiator coil 23 fed with steam through the inlet pipe 31, draining through the outlet 38 to a trap, and thence to any convenient sewer. An electric motor 33 drives a fan 40 integral therewith to propel air past the radiator 23 whereby it is heated and passes into the cabinet Heater unit 36, just described, is a, well-known standard assembly and is deemed to require no further elaboration. Toward the extreme inside rear of cabinet H is a flat 'baiile 4| (Figure 7) extending from' the top to the bottom thereof but spaced away a short distance 42 at each side for a purpose to be described. Between t e baille 4| and the rear of cabinet H is provided a nozzle 43 comprising a pipe drilled along its axis with a plurality of holes, capped at its extreme end control bulb 83 inserted through an opening 34 in the roof of the chamber acts as a pilot whereby temperature rise or drop within the cabinet respectively expands or contracts a fluid in the pilot 83 and its tube 85,-to act in conjunction with a compressed air supply entering at 86 to operate the valve 68. A temperature rise within the cabinet over the predetermined setting will act through the control 32 and valve 63 to provide closing movement to valve 68 and interrupt the flow of steam to the nozzle 43, and

vice versa, a temperature drop under the predetermined setting will provide openingmovement to valve 68 and .permit flow of steam to nozzle 43. By means of the aforesaid arrangement of apparatus a predetermined presetting temperature may be selected on' the instrument 32 and the same maintained within extremely close limits. Such temperature controlling apparatus is not of itself any novel part of this invention as the same result may be obtained in a number of ways and by using other types of equipment well known in the art.

Strainer 66 serves to prevent foreign matter in the line from affecting the operation of the valve 63. Valves 64 and Il may be used to isolate valve 66 for repairs in which event bypass connection 3|, including valve 32, is used to detour the steam entering at 6| around the valve 63 and into fittings T3. In such emergency. valve 32 must be controlled manually to regulate the interior cabinet temperature and a direct reading thermometer (not shown) used as a guide by the operator.

Valve 93 is employed to control the steam supply to heater unit 36 and a switch (not shown) is provided to operate manually the motor 33 at the desired times.

Steam entering the nozzle 43 is dissipated over the width of the cabinet, striking the rear wall, roof and floor thereof as well as baflle 4| and, completely diffused and decelerated in velocity, enters the main part of the chamber through openings 42. Thus, no part of the stockings, for example, those nearest the nozzle 43, are subjected to too vigorous a jet of water vapor or steam which may unevenly or excessively set them.

For suspending the stockings within the cabinet N there is provided a plurality of units |2| (Figures 6 and '7) shown in enlarged detail in Figure 8, each comprising a cylindrical stem 22 terminating at its lower extremity in a threaded portion taking into the disc I23. Threadedly engaged at spaced apart intervals circumferentially of disc I23 are the needle holders I24 each consisting of a common screw drilled in the body to receive the butt of a needle I25, similar in most respects to an ordinary fine sewing needle. It will be observed that the needles are arranged with the pointed extremity slightly directed outwardly to facilitate their function, as will appear.

slidably mounted on stem I22 is the cup-shaped needle guard I3I normally, i. e. during loading of the unit I2I, at the full line position shown in Figure 8, and at the lower dotted line position after loading. A lower position stop I32 and an upper position stop I33 are provided integrally on the stem I22, these being attached thereto after assembly of said guard .I3I. spring I34 located in a groove I35 in the stem I22 formed at its lower extremity at right angles to itself to enter a hole I38 in said stem maintains guard I3I in its proper position.

At the extreme upper end of stem I22 is the spherical member I31 drilled to fit over a reduced portion I39 of said stem, said reduced portion being peened over as shown at I39 to retain said member I31 fixedl with relation to stem I22. Said stem is also slightly reduced in diameter at I4I to engage with the bifurcated spring clip I42 acting to retain said unit I2I against ertical shifting, and in assembled relation with magazine I43 about to be described.

Each cabinet unit II has associated therewith a plurality of magazines I43, in this instance, six, formed in a channel shape (Figures '7 and 8) and extending substantially from baffle 4| to the front of the chamber, as shown. The upper leg of each magazine is provided with a plurality of sl ghtly countersunk holes I5I (Figure 9) in this instance, seven, opening into a slot I52 having rounded entering corners, each said hole I5I acting as a seat for anindividual member I31. Directly below each said hole I5I and slot I52 and in the lower leg of channel I43 is a slot I53 corresponding in contour and width substantially with slot I52 thereabove and serving to accommodate stem I22 (Figure 8). Clips I42 are riveted or otherwise fastened to the web of channel I43. It will be understood that the number of magazine I43 and units I2I associated therewith may be varied, depending upon the intended capacity of the presetting cabinet.

Fixed to the baille '4I near the roof of the chamber (Figure 6) is the row of pairs of spring clips I54 of substantial tension adapted to receive magazines I43 by endwise engagement of the web thereof.

Now referring to Figure 13 there is depicted a loading unit comprising an auxiliary stand including a weighted base IOI carrying a central post I02v rigidly mounted therein. Rotatably mounted on a suitable collar on said post I02 is the octagonal hub I03 provided on each face thereof with a pair of spring slips I04 corresponding to clips I54 of Figure '1, rigidly fastened thereto by screws I05. Fixedly mounted on the post I02 over the hub I03 is the T-shapcd collar I06 bearing an arm I01 terminating in a T- shaped connection I08 which slidably carrie he rod I09 adjustable to a preferred fixed position therein by screw II2. Afflxed to the lower extremity of said rod I09 is the bifurcated cl p II3 identical with that shown in Figure 10. The loading unit may be located at any convenient place near the treating chamber and is preferably installed near the inspecting station.

III)

If, by reason of increasing the number of units I 2|, magazines I43 are too long to warrant cantilever suspension by clips as in Figure '1, the construction may be modified as shown in Figure 14, wherein each magazine I43 is provided with an eyebolt I56 at the rear'end thereof and a hook bolt I51 at the front end, adapted to fit over a rod I58 held in a bushing I59 attached to baille 4|. In the event this alternative is availed of then pairs of clips I04 (Figure 13) must be replaced with radially extending rods like I58, fitted into the facets of the hub I03, as will be obvious.

It is preferred to fabricate all interior parts of the apparatus that are likely to come into contact with the goods of non-rusting material since, at the present state of the art, rust spots are not removable from nylon.

Operation Assuming that a batch of stockings has just been processed, closure I2 is opened by unlocking the latches 24. Magazines I43 are removed from the chamber by grasping each at its forward end and withdrawing the same from its clips I54 and inserting it in clips I04 on the stand of Figure 13. An operator lifts the guard I3I on all of the units I2I and the 'treated stockings impaled on needles I25 are stripped therefrom and thrown into any suitable container, as for example, the net bags used in the dyeing operation. It is not necessary to pile preset stockings or use any care different from that exercised with Dre-boarded hose.

Thereupon the inspecting operator, seated at the inspection machine remo ges one of the units I2I from the magazine I43 by grasping the same near the lower part thereof and swinging the same outwardly (as indicated by the dotted lines in Figure 8) against the tension of the clip I42, using the member I31 and hole I5l as a ball and socket joint. The unit I2I is then snapped into the clip H3 at the neck portion I4I. After each stocking is-inspected it is impaled on a needle I25 at a place adjacent the extreme tip of the toe. The fineness of the needle cooperating with the loops of the stocking and the mass thereof render this impaling operation nothing more or less than a simple dropping of the stocking onto the needle. In other words, no definite manual pressure is entailed in the impalement, nor, as a result, is there any permanent marking of the goods, the point of the needle entering between the loop formation. Consequently, the stocking is suspended freely with all the loose folds and fabric configurations naturally present in the knitted fabric undisturbed.

It is preferred not to suspend more than four to six stockings on each needle I25 to forestall any tendency of the upper stockings pressing upon the underneath ones and shaping into them sharp wrinkles. Units I2I can be rotated in its clip II3 for accessibility to each of the several needles I25. Upon'fully loading all needles of a unit I2I it is removed from clip I I3 and replaced in its former location in its magazine by reversing the steps involved in its removal. When all units I2I of a magazine are loaded hub I03 is rotated manually to present another magazine and its associated needle units into position for loading.

After all the units are fully loaded and transferred to the magazines, the same are detached from clips I04 and reengaged with clips I54.. Door I2 is closed and relocked by means of latches her to be controlled as to temperature in the manner already described. degree of pre-setting desired, said steam may be controlled at or above 212 F. or at or below 212 F. to yield water vapor. The treating interval may be timed by the operator or by other automatic timing means not shown or described herein. After pre-setting, valve I1 is closed.

Following the pre-settlng operation proper it is preferred to evaporate moisture entrapped in the processed articles. Provided this is done the articles can be placed inbags immediately rather than delay the processing while natural evaporation occurs. If desired, a duplicate set of magazines I 43 and their associated units |2| may be provided so that one set is being charged while the other is invthe chamber, and inasmuch as loading the units III may take longer than the processing period, the set just removed from the cabinet may be air-drying naturally without impeding production. Furthermore, in the event loading time is equal to treating time, a third set of magazinesv I43 and units l2l may be employed so that one is being loaded, another is in the chamber for pre-setting and the third is airdrying naturally. Accelerated drying in the chamber is performed by opening valve 93 to admit steam through pipe 31, radiator 29 and out as condensate through conduit 5!, to transfer heat to the air which is blown into the chamber by means of the impeller 40 on motor 39 and exhausted through flue 3| controlled by its damper32. After drying, the heater unit 36 is turned off, valve 9; is closed, and the goods are ready to be removed from the chamber.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. The method of setting a fabric article fablricated substantially from a yarn essentially a synthetic linear condensation polyamide following the primary fabrication of said article and prior to any subsequent hot, liquid treatment. which comprises supporting said article in such a manner as to retain therein the naturally occurring loose folds and configurations of the article resulting from the primary fabrication, and subjecting the article while so supported to the action of a vaporous setting medium.

2. The method of setting a fabric article fabricated substantially from a yarn essentially a synthetic linear condensation polyamide following the primary fabrication of said article and prior to any subsequent dyeing treatment, which comprises supporting said article in such a man- 'ner as to retain therein the naturally occurring loose folds and configurations of the article re- Depending upon the sulting from the primary fabrication. and subiecting the article while so supported to the action of an aqueous setting medium.

3. The method of setting a fabric article fabricated substantially from a yarn essentially a synthetic linear condensation polyamide following the primary fabrication of said article and prior to any subsequent dyeing treatment, which comprises supporting said article on an impaling point and permitting said article to freely suspend therefrom so as to retain-therein the naturally occurring loose folds and configurations of the article resulting from the primary fabrication, and subjecting the article while so supported to the action of an aqueoussetting medium.

4. The method of setting a fabric article fabricated ubstantially from a yarn essentially a synthetic linear condensation polyamide following the primary fabrication of said article and prior to any subsequent hot, liquid treatment, which comprises supporting said article on an impaling point and permitting said article to freely suspend therefrom so as to retain therein the naturally occurring loose folds and configurations of the article resulting from the primary fabrication, and subjecting the article while so supported to the action of .a vaporous setting medium.

5. The method of setting a fabric article fabricated substantially from a yarn essentially a synthetic linear condensation polyamide following the primary fabrication of said article and prior to any subsequent dyeing treatment, which comprises supporting said article by clamping means and permitting said article to freely suspend therefrom so as to retain therein the naturally occurring loose folds and configurations of the article resulting from the primary fabrication, and subjecting the article while so supported to the action of an aqueous setting medium.

6. The method of setting a fabric article fabricated substantially from a yarn essentially a synthetic linear condensation polyamide following the primary fabrication of said article and prior to any subsequent hot, liquid treatment, which comprises supporting said article by clamping means and permitting said article to freely suspend therefrom so as to retain therein the naturally occurring loose folds and configurations of the article resulting from the primary fabrication, and subjecting the article while so supported to the action of a vaporous setting medium.

GEORGE E. DUNN. 

